Attachment for adding-machines.



S. MVSIRMANS.

ATTACHMENT FOR ADDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR 18, 1916.

1,21 9,356. Patented Mal-.13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A p 7 v I 6mm;

S. M. SiRMANS.

ATTACHMENT FOR ADDING MACHTNES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1916 Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHELTON M. SIRMANS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

ATTACHMENT FOR ADDING-MACHINES.

Application filed April 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHELTON M. SIRMANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Adding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for adding machines of the electrically operated type, and particularly to a controlling attachment for governing the supply of current to the electric motor and operating the space bar at desired times.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment which may be easily and conveniently applied to any of the ordinary types of machines in common use, and by means of which the electric current supply switch and the space bar may be conveniently actuated by a foot mechanism leaving the hands of the operator entirely free to perform other functions incidental to the operation of the machine.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view conventionally illustrating an adding machine of the character specified with the attachment applied for use. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view through the supporting legs of the machine frame and looking down upon the attachment.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the attachment on an enlarged scale showing the foot pedals in normal position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the foot pedals depressed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the connection between the space bar and its operating member.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of an adding machine of the character described, 2 the supporting legs at the corners of the stand thereof, 3 the electric driving motor, and 4 the spacing bar or lever, all of which may be of any of the usual or conventional constructions in common use.

My improved controlling device or at- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Serial No. 92,059.

tachment comprises a frame member or casing 5, which is of channel construction and preferably formed of sheet metal, said frame member consisting of a vertically disposed back plate (5 and parallel side plates 7. Secured to the side plates 7 are fastening members 8 each provided with a pair of bracket arms 9 terminating at their free ends in back-turned portions forming U- shaped clips 10. These clips 10 engage the legs 2 of the stand of the machine and are provided with clamping bolts 11 to draw the jaws thereof into engagement with the legs, whereby the attachment is demountably fastened in position upon the machine at a desired level above the surface of the floor. Supported by the frame member 5 is a foot pedal, controlling member or lever 12 preferably comprising a sheet metal plate having lateral extensions 13 at its outer ends, allowing it to be conveniently operated by either foot at will, said plate having its inner end projecting between the sides of the frame member 5 and being provided with upstanding portions or side walls 11 pivotally connected with the side plates 7, as at 15, whereby said pedal or footlever is mounted for movement in a vertical plane. Carried by the pedal or lever 12 is a switch member or contact 16, which is suitably insulated therefrom, and which is adapted for coiiperation with a switch member or contact 17 on the back plate of the frame member and which is suitably insulated from said back plate, said switch members being spaced apart in the normal position of the foot lever and adapted to be moved into engagement for a circuit closing action when the le er is depressed.

Connected with the respective switch contacts 16 and 17 are conductors 18 and 19, one of which leads to the electric motor 3 and the other of which is provided with a plug or connection 20 for engagement with a switch socket in the fioor or wall and connected with a source of current supply, whereby when the switch contacts are in engagement current will be supplied to the motor to operate the machine, while when said switch and contacts are out of engagement the flow of current to the motor will be cut off to render the machine inoperative. Guide pins or bolts 21 are connected with the back plate 6 and slidably engage legs 22 on the foot lever, and arranged about these pins are coiled springs 23 which operate to hold the foot pedal normally elevated and .the switch contacts out of engagement,

while permitting depression of said foot lever against the resistance of said springs to throw the contacts into engagement. Bracing members 24 extend inwardly from the side pieces of the switch lever and are connected by a bolt 25, by means of which any tendency of the side walls of the switch lever to spread will be prevented.

Arranged above the inner portion of the lever 12 is a second lever or controlling device 26, which also comprises a sheet metal plate having upwardly extending side pieces 27 pivoted with the lever 12 to the side plates of the frame member at the points 15. One of the side pieces of this lever 26 is provided with a projecting arm 28 having a series of apertures therein for adjustable engagement with a connecting element 29 leading to a bracket arm 30 formed at its free end with a cuff or clip 31 to embrace the space bar 4 and provided with a clamping bolt 3:2, the construction being such that when the lever 26 is depressed the space bar will be operated for a spacing action. Formed upon the lever 26 is a lug 33 slidably engaging one end of a pin or bolt 34 fixed to the body of the frame piece 5 and surrounding which between said lug and frame piece is a coiled spring This spring normally serves to hold the lever 26 elevated to maintain the space bar in retracted position, and it will beevident that in depressing the lever 26 the spring will be compressed so that when the pressure of the foot is removed from the lever the latter will be retracted for the purpose specified.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the invention provides an attachment for adding machines of the character defined, which may be applied to any ordinary type of adding machine, and which embodies, in a simple and effective form, means for controlling the supply of current to the driving motor and means for operating the spacing mechanism at will, such means being respectively operated by means of foot pedals so that the hands of the operator will be left free to perform the many and various functions incidental to the operation of the machine in a more convenient, certain and expeditious manner. The device may be manufactured and applied for use at a comparatively small cost, and its advantages will be evident from the foregoing description.

I claim 1. An attachment for adding machines of the character described comprising a frame structure, means for attaching the same to the machine frame, a pair of superposed pivotally mounted foot levers upon said frame structure, said levers being arranged in juxtaposition to each other and one extending outwardly beyond the other, switch elements controlled by one of said foot levers, an actuating element controlled by the other foot lever, guide elements upon the fralne structure, in sliding engagement with the levers, and springs between the levers and the frame structure for yieldingly maintaining said levers in normal position.

An attachment for adding machines of the character described comprising a frame structure, means for attaching the same to the machine frame, a pair of superposed pivotally mounted foot levers upon said frame structure, said levers being arranged in juxtaposition to each other and one extending outwardly beyond the other, switch elements controlled by one of said foot levers, an actuating element controlled by the other foot lever, guide pins upon the frame structure in sliding engagement with the levers, and springs upon said pins between the levers and the frame structure for yieldingly maintaining said levers in normal position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SHELTON MQ SIRMANS.

Witnesses:

N. P. CowAN, IJ. IJ. EIOORE. 

